Earth Month presents a powerful opportunity to reflect on the role that business can play in achieving sustainability and combating climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Salesforce, sustainability is more than a core value, it\u2019s a driving force. In 2021, the company achieved net zero residual emissions across its full value chain<\/a> and 100% renewable energy for its operations. This week, it introduced a series of new initiatives designed to foster a more sustainable and equitable future<\/a> through the use of AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During her trip to Sydney, Suzanne DiBianca, EVP and Chief Impact Officer at Salesforce, discussed how businesses can integrate sustainability into their everyday operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My visit to Australia was a fantastic opportunity to connect with local companies. Sustainability isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for business. Schneider Electric\u2019s Sustainability Index, 2023<\/em><\/a> revealed that more than three-quarters of Australian companies believe sustainable transformation is driving a competitive edge, and over two-thirds agree that Australia must meet net zero emissions targets to remain economically competitive.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Australia, I saw the growing focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility as a business imperative. Companies like Endeavour Energy<\/a>, which uses Salesforce\u2019s Net Zero Cloud<\/a> to power its carbon emissions accounting platform, are setting a leading example of the role businesses can play toward a more sustainable future.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Australian businesses can leverage AI to get smarter on sustainability goals and achieve them quicker, and make reporting easier<\/a> as they navigate a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n AI can be used to analyse data to pinpoint areas for improvement, like energy use and waste and predict future environmental impact. Imagine farms using AI for smarter irrigation or logistics companies optimising delivery routes \u2013 all leading to a reduced carbon footprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But we know that the increased use of AI across organisations won’t be without an environmental impact, so responsible development<\/a> is crucial. As AI use increases, data centre energy demands are expected to triple by 2030<\/a>. Businesses can be part of the solution by powering their operations and data centres with renewable energy and advocating for more transparency in AI\u2019s climate impact<\/p>\n\n\n\n Salesforce is a prime example: we develop smaller, energy-efficient AI models, leverage the most efficient hardware available, and prioritise low-carbon data centres to train our models.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nQ. During your visit, did any local businesses stand out as leading the way on sustainability in Australia? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Q. How can Australian businesses leverage technologies like AI to set and achieve sustainability targets?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n